Qareqare Hat-trick Fires Castleford Past Bradford
ByChris Harby
BBC Sport England
26 March 2026
17 Comments
Betfred Super League
Castleford (22) 40
Tries: Qareqare 3, McIntosh 2, Lawler, Weaver Goals: Weaver 6
Bradford (16) 28
Tries: Marsters 2, Mellor, Hooley Goals: Hooley 6
Jason Qareqare's hat-trick inspired a marvelous turn-around as Castleford beat Bradford 40-28 at the OneBore Stadium to protect a 2nd Super League win of the season.
The lead changed hands 4 times in a frenzied very first half as Qareqare's treble and Darnell McIntosh's rating, responding to tries from Esan Marsters and Joe Mellor, edged Cas 22-16 ahead at the break.
Having trailed by four points with 2 minutes of the very first half left, fast scores from George Lawler, Tom Weaver and McIntosh's 2nd took the hosts 24 points clear within 10 minutes of the restart.
Luke Hooley crossed on the hour as he completed with 16 points, however Bulls' comeback hopes failed as Waqa Blake's score was dismissed before Marsters grabbed a late second.
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In a rematch of both sides' first-ever Super League clash - to open the league's 30-year anniversary events - Castleford avenged that 30-18 defeat to claim succeeding home league wins for the first time given that April 2024 and climb up to 11th.
Smarting from a humbling 72-6 defeat at Warrington, Cas fell back inside 100 seconds as Marsters pinched a crossfield kick from McIntosh's grasp and dropped over the line.
The hosts responded in kind with their first possession, working the ball rapidly out to the left touchline for Qareqare to sprint in from close range.
Ill discipline permitted Hooley to boot the Bulls back ahead with 2 quick penalties before the Tigers struck the front for the very first time with an almost identical rating as fast hands created an overlap on the left edge for Qareqare to tear in once again.
The Cas lead lasted simply 7 minutes as Jayden Nikorima and Ed Chamberlain gave Mellor an easy run in, but the Bulls were stunned by 2 tries in as numerous minutes on the stroke of half-time.
McIntosh entered at the right corner to level, and running the last play of the very first duration from deep inside their own half, Krystian Mapapalangi this time provided Qareqare a longer run down the left touchline to complete his hat-trick.
Yet this was just a taster of the havoc to come as Qareqare triggered more carnage straight after the break.
The winger's run required a penalty from which Lawler would add a third Cas attempt in 5 minutes, twisting in the take on and going for the line.
The chastened Bulls continued to as Weaver's show-and-go took him through two tackles and under the posts before Zac Cini offered McIntosh a walk-in at the ideal corner.
Bulls worked the ball through the hands to give Hooley an overlap on the right before persistent defence saw Castleford drive away 3 succeeding repeat sets as the visitors defended a method back.
Nerves looked set to jangle as Blake finished another slick Bradford attack which would have cut the lead to 14 points with 12 minutes left.
But video referee Liam Rush identified an offside, ultimately making Marsters' second rating a consolation and consigning fifth-placed Bradford to a third away Super League defeat.
'We didn't let setbacks get to us' - Castleford response
Castleford Tigers head coach Ryan Carr informed BBC Radio Leeds:
"It was another night where we had hardship early, conceding a try off a bomb, then we lose Semi Valemei to another head knock - that's our 5th in three weeks.
"We needed to reshuffle the entire right edge for the whole of the 2nd half and I believed they did a great job.
"We didn't let the obstacles get to us today, which is something we spoke about a lot. If we didn't evaluate the video game effectively and go harsh on ourselves from last week we would not most likely have actually reacted in that way.
"I'm actually happy and delighted for the gamers. We have actually all had a tough week and I'm simply happy to see them smiling and pleased with their efficiency."
'It will be a big knowing curve' - Bradford response
Bradford Bulls head coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:
"We have a very dissatisfied lot of men in the dressing space, however we're a brand new group and we'll carry on.
"If you score 28 points in a Super League game, you must win the video game, but ultimately we simply didn't get it ideal methodically on edges.
"It will be a huge learning curve for us since we've not actually faced that yet, however we'll fix it up and we'll enhance.
"I've got a really studious lot of males so we'll take a look at it, we'll fix it, we'll problem solve and proceed from it."
Castleford: Cini, Valemei, McIntosh, Mapapalangi, Qareqare, Asi, Weaver, Atoni, Forber, Westerman, Lane, Hirst, Lawler.
Interchanges: Greacen, Doolan, Hall, Beckett.
Bradford: Aekins, Hooley, Marsters, Blake, Ryan, Nikorima, Milnes, Sutton, Ackers, Lewis, Chamberlain, Ruan, Mellor.
Interchanges: Atkin, Ormondroyd, Hallas, Steinwede.
Referee: J. Vella.
Related topics
Castleford Tigers
Rugby League